John Deering of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette created this editorial cartoon for National Newspaper Week in 2023

By Morgan Nunley

National Newspaper Week is a North American annual week-long appreciation and celebration of the newspaper industry and those who are involved in it. The celebration is held by both the United States and Canada. 2023 marks the 83rd celebration of newspaper week.

The basis of the celebration is the honor the legacy and current evolution of newspapers and how they have shaped the way that many of us receive the news. Even if you don’t read the newspaper, and get your news from your phone or television, that all evolved from the basis and concept that the newspaper brought about.

Of course, many people still do get their information from newspapers, magazines, and other printed material, but not quite like people did less than a hundred years ago. Radio, television, and social media have all played key roles in shaping the modern news cycle and modern news methods.

However, just like the statement on National Newspaper Week’s website, newspapers have also made a transition and moved to online reporting or news gathering. Many of the prominent news papers like The New York Times and The Washington Post have a vocal and prominent presence online through social media and through their websites.

Many of the newspaper companies are still around and still giving the people the most recent headlines and news stories. They are just doing it in different and more modern ways. The principle of the industry has remained the same. The news is to be delivered accurately, informatively, and quickly, in that order.

To celebrate the newspaper and news industry as a whole, many artists, writers, editors, and more have taken to their own personal platform to take part in the honoring of newspapers. The cartoon editorial done by John Deering of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is an example of one of these unique pieces of expression and appreciation for newspapers.

Though the use of newspapers has somewhat plateaued with the newer technology and innovation in media, the print newspaper itself will never completely go away. It will always be used in some form or fashion for the digestion of news and current events. It is a testament of news reporting and the initial form of media in North America. The impact that it has had on the media landscape cannot be understated, and should continue to be celebrated for another 83 years.